The walls of the church were covered with sentences, and the windows were ornamented by stained glass, but in the great repair bestowed on the church in 1747, all these were removed, as it is said, by the zeal of Mr. Collins, at that time Vicar, against all vestiges of the religion professed by our forefathers. A few small panes of glass only remain, and the cross engrailed Sable, on a field Or (the arms of Mahon), can alone be distinguished. The south wall of the church is supported by a continued buttress, added about the year 1760.
On a slab stone, just before the communion table, is the following inscription:
Here lyeth the body of the below named
John Ralph,
who ended this life the 10th of Feb. anno Domni 1729,
in the 85th year of his age.
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Here lyeth the body of Loveday, the wife of
John Ralph, Vicar of this parish,
by whom he had three children,
Mary, John, and Loveday;
the last died in her infancy.
The other two were alive at their
mother’s death.
She was a virtuous and prudent wife,
a loving and indulgent mother,
a friendly and prudent neighbour,
and very charitable to the poor.
She exchanged this life for a better
the last day of November, in the year
of our Lord 1715, and in the 82d year
of her age.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, yea, saith the spirit, that they rest from their labour.” Rev. xiv. 13.
John Ralph, son of the above, obtained the living of Ingatestone, in Essex, and died there in 1755.
Adjoining to this stone is another, with an interesting inscription:
Underneath is deposited,
in hopes of a joyful resurrection,
the body of Elizabeth, wife of Edward Collins,
Vicar of this parish, whose filial piety and obedience,
conjugal love and fidelity, maternal care and affection,
unfeigned charity and benevolence, uniform and constant
perseverance in all the duties of Christianity,
have been equalled by few, excelled by none.
She was the daughter
of Nicholas Kendall, of Pelyn, Clerk,
Canon Residentiary of St. Peter’s, Exeter,
and Archdeacon of Totness,
by Jane, daughter of Thomas Carew, of Harrabear, Esq.
son of Sir Alexander Carew, of East Anthony, Bart.
She was born Aug. 19, 1701; married July 22, 1731;
died Nov. 30, 1749.
M.
Conjugis opt. dilectissimæ
H. M. L. M. P. C.
Maritus amantissimus
juxta cum Deo visum deponendus.
The six letters stand for, Hoc Marmor Loco Monumenti Poni Curavit.